You Don't Deserve My Tears

Why Always Me?

I acted oblivious of everything and did my task.

By the time I finished, Gilbert was asleep.

He had just fallen asleep because his phone was still unlocked.

I saw a read message from Alice.

‘’I can’t wait for tomorrow.’’

When I opened the message, I saw that there was a ticket for an intimate night in Miami.

Then two days later, they will meet Graham and Joseph at the airport.

My heart was torn to pieces, but I was quick to recover.

The following morning, I was up as usual.

Earlier than the birds.

I started to get Gilbert ready.

I started to run his hot water, then I put some oats on fire.

The ticket I saw last night said that the time of their flight was 9:00 AM.

Gilbert needed an early start.

He knew I would handle everything, so he did not wake up until seven thirty.

He took a bath, ate, and left for the airport without looking at me or saying any parting words.

As his wife.

When Gilbert left, I got the house cleaned up, prepared breakfast for Graham and Joseph, and then I went back to my room.

I had some free time because Gilbert was not around.

This does not happen often.

I took out my phone, searched for the Science Adaptation Council on the internet, and started to research for my forthcoming speech.

An hour later, I heard Lucy enter the house.

Lucy was my daughter-in-law.

The Mayfair trip to Los Angeles had made her impromptu return from school.

She was studying for her master's degree, and I was the person who helped my son, Graham, to pay for it.

After paying for Lucy’s master’s degree, Graham, just like others, disregarded my existence.

‘’Mum!’’

Lucy screamed at me.

‘’I’m hungry. Didn’t Gray tell you I was coming?’’ she murmured.

I heard Graham reply, ‘’I forgot. Sorry.’’ ‘’Mum, please make some breakfast for Lu...’’

Joseph, who had been quiet the whole morning, ran into the living room.

Causing a tantrum, he hugged his mother.

‘’Grandma Alice has brought my mom back home too. Grandma Alice is always the best.’’

Lucy’s smile was as broad as the city bridge.

‘’I can’t miss that trip for the world,’’ Lucy hugged Joseph back.

‘’Mom, hurry, I’m starving. I traveled all night.’’

Lucy changed to a serious expression as she barked orders at me.

I ignored her and did what I always did.

I bent down and worked for my family until my fingers ached.

‘’Grandma Christy, where’s my passport?’’

I showed Joseph where his passport was.

‘’Yes, what of mine?’’ Graham whined.

I also showed Graham where his passport was kept.

I did that while Lucy applied make-up lavishly.

‘’Grandma, I’ll have some tea for my belly. Just that.’’

Lucy waved at me and smiled.

‘’I made pancakes...’’ When I said that, Joseph stomped his feet angrily.

‘’We are going to have breakfast inside the aero plane. Who wants your soggy pancakes?’’

‘’Come on Joe...’’ Lucy, pretending to scold her son giggled dismissively.

‘’Grandma made you something, you should thank her regardless.’’

‘’I remember that time that Grandma gave you pancakes when you were going to school. You secretly threw it away that it looked

disgusting. Why are you now shouting at me?’’

Joseph's voice rang across the room, causing everyone to pause.

He ran into his room, deciding not to allow anyone to rid him of his joyful trip.

‘’Okay, we are getting late.’’

Graham quickly diverted everyone’s attention.

Soon, we were all in a hurry again.

Soon, I had been pushed to the back of the burner as if I didn’t matter.

I didn’t matter in this family.

By the time we got to the airport, Joseph’s excitement was over the roof.

He jumped out of the car when he saw Gilbert and Alice at a distance waiting for them.

‘’Grandma Alice!’’ Joseph jumped out of the car before anyone could hold him back.

Then he started to run towards Gilbert and Alice.

‘’Joseph!’’ Lucy yelled in horror as Joseph tore across the airport.

An airport carrier was too slow in steering clear of Joseph, so he hit him.

Joseph fell, and the cross bag he insisted on hanging across his shoulder flew open and poured its contents out.

He started screaming and crying.

‘’Mum, why didn’t you hold him?’’

Lucy yelled at the top of her voice as she hurried towards Joseph.

‘’Come on, mum! You had one job.’’

Graham also scolded me.

He jogged behind Lucy towards Joseph.

‘’You are so clumsy...’’ I could hear Gilbert rebuking me as he was walking towards us.

A worried Alice also shot me a disapproving look.

‘’I’m fine. Where’s my ticket?’’ That’s what Joseph said when everyone came around him.

‘’Get his things.’’

Gilbert yanked me as he watched Joseph get up and dust himself.

Graham dusted Joseph and asked, ‘’are you hurt?’’

Joseph shook his head.

Alice clung on to Gilbert’s arm like a mistress.

I looked at her, and she stared back at me with defiance.

Gilbert belonged to her more than he would ever belong to me.

It had always been so.

I was lucky to find Joseph’s ticket not far off while gathering the scattered items across the airport floor.

I picked up everything, and then I put them back in his bag.

‘’I’ll hold it. Give me!’’ Joseph snatched the bag from me since I wanted to give it to his mother, Lucy.

Seeing that everyone was okay, Gilbert took Alice's hand and started to walk away.

‘’We are late.’’ That was the only thing he said as he turned his back on me and started to go to the tarmac gate.

‘’Los Angeles, Gate 5! Los Angeles, Gate 5!!’’ I heard the announcement on the radio.

Graham and Lucy took Joseph’s hand and all of them turned their backs on me without saying a word.

They maneuvered with excitement through the crowded airport while I watched them disappear with every step they took.

They left me, without saying a word.